Targeted Radiation for Breast Cancer May Cause More Complications

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- A targeted radiation
treatment called brachytherapy causes more complications in breast
cancer patients than whole-breast radiation, according to a new
study.

In older women with early stage breast cancer, the standard
treatment is breast-conserving surgery, typically followed by
radiation therapy to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

In brachytherapy, radiation sources are temporarily implanted in
catheters within the site of the cancer surgery. Proponents of
brachytherapy say it is better than whole-breast radiation because
it reduces the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation.

"This treatment method seems ideal in theory, but we found it concerning that such an important clinical decision that affects so many women was being made on the basis of theory, rather than scientific evidence," study lead author Dr. Cary Gross, an associate professor of internal medicine at Yale School of Medicine, said in a Yale news release.

"Despite the absence of large randomized controlled trials comparing these two treatments, brachytherapy has become increasingly popular, in part because of a theoretically lower rate of complications," he noted.

Gross and his colleagues studied Medicare data on about 30,000
women and found that nearly 16 percent of breast cancer patients
undergoing radiation therapy received brachytherapy in 2008-09.
Brachytherapy rates were less than 1 percent in 2000 and 10 percent
in 2006.

The researchers also found that brachytherapy was associated
with a nearly 17 percent higher rate of wound and skin
complications in the year after treatment, compared to whole breast
radiation. The two treatments had similar rates of deep tissue or
bone complications.

The findings were published in the October issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology.

"This study highlights the importance of conducting comparative effectiveness research before a new treatment becomes widespread," Gross said. "Medicare is spending significantly more money to cover this treatment, which potentially exposes women to a higher risk of complications than the 'tried and true' whole-breast irradiation."

More information

The American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society
of North America have more on
brachytherapy.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.